Edo poll: NGO makes case for people with disability
NAN-H-68
Disability
By Ehis Igbaugba
Iruekpen (Edo), Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) An Observer group, Center for Citizens with Disability, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to provide avenue that would enable people with disability to vote with ease during elections.
Mr Davies Osaghale, the Edo Coordinator of the center, an Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Edo governorship election.
Speaking in Iruekpen in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, Oseghale said the appeal became necessary as several persons living with disability had been disenfranchised because of uneasy access to the polling booths.
He said that INEC and the Federal Government, as well as states governments should consider the interest of this class of people when planning for elections.
“What we have experienced in previous elections is that people with disability were often disenfranchised as they found it difficult to access the polling booths due to the ground level or staircases.
``If people living with disability are able to have easy access to perform their civic obligation, it will give them a sense of responsibility as Nigerians.
“We want to see how they are assisted or have easy access to the polling booths.
“We are all one people and no one should be disenfranchised on account of his physical condition,” he said. (NAN)
ESI/KOO/AMY
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Abdullahi Yusuf